Surface for the growing of turf forming grasses and other plants

Inactive Publication Date: 2007-02-06
STRATUM GREEN
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0012]According to the present invention, there is provided an artificial surface for the growing of turf forming grasses and other plants, comprising a mixture of rubber, a polymer modified bitumen emulsion, and slow release, plant nutrient containing particles, mixed in sufficient proportions and to a substantially even distribution of each of the rubber, emulsion and particles throughout the mixture so that, when laid and cured, the mixture uniformly produces a water permeable, heat conductive surface having air pockets through which a root system of the turf forming grasses and other plants can penetrate, the plant nutrient containing particles being trapped within the surface for slow release of plant nutrient to the root system.

Problems solved by technology

As the sand and gravel components are derived from naturally occurring deposits, it is almost impossible to find deposits of these components that satisfy the required specification, and so costly and time consuming grading and washing processes are necessary to conform the naturally occurring deposits appropriately.
A further difficulty has arisen in sourcing of the naturally occurring deposits due to the high demand for sand and gravel over the last few hundred years in the building and civil engineering industries.
These deposits are becoming increasingly exhausted and the costs and delays associated with the transportation of these deposits from ever more distant pits and quarries are placing a burden on satisfying the demand cost effectively.
Although not originally intended as a custom made surface to support turf growth, it has been found that the artificial surface of Australian Patent No. 712,740 will, to a minimal degree, support the growth of turf, albeit of indifferent quality.

Method used

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Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

example 1

[0019]An artificial surface according to a first embodiment of the present invention is produced by firstly dry, cold mixing in a “PAVESET”™ mixing machine equipped with a calibrated continuous flow means (such as is used for road making) a combination of about 32.8% w / w recycled, reconstituted or new rubber with an average mesh size (according to accepted standards) of between about 7 and 16, about 32.8% w / w mineral aggregate (of stone size up to about 10 mm diameter) such as basalt, sand or crusher dust, about 4.0% w / w filler, such as cement dust and fly ash, about 2.6% w / w additive, such as chemical retardants that slow down the “breaking” of emulsions, and about 0.8% w / w or water absorbing, slow release plant nutrient crystals, such as fertilizers coated with sulphur or a polymer that breaks down when subjected to specific conditions of temperature, moisture and / or time. The filler may also include zeolite. In one embodiment, the mixture may further include a chemical retardant ...

example 2

[0032]A slightly slower growing turf than that grown on the artificial surface of Example 1 may be produced on a better draining, more shock absorbing surface suitable for many sports by laying a loose overcushion of rubber shavings having a width in any direction of between about 20 mm and 80 mm so that the overcushion is to a depth of about 50 mm to 100 mm over the artificial surface of Example 1. Randomly mixed in with, or sprinkled over, the overcushion is a quantity of the plant nutrient crystals used in the artificial surface of Example 1. The thickness of the overcushion of rubber shavings and plant nutrient crystals is no more than about 200 mm. Specialized sports turf grass is then laid over the surface. The grass takes root in the surface by developing root systems through both the overcushion and the surface of Example 1 acting as a base for the overcushion, and the surface can be used after about 30 days under normal weather conditions, but after about 14 days if the wea...

example 3

[0038]A turf that may be used within an hour of being laid can be produced by laying mature turf onto the still uncured or sticky mixture that has been poured into its location of use, as described in Example 1. A turf tractor equipped with a roller apparatus unrolls the turf onto the sticky mixture and the underside of the turf through which the root systems emerge are bonded to the sticky mixture. With curing of the mixture, the turf is established and can be used immediately in most circumstances.

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PUM

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Abstract

An artificial surface for the growing of turf forming grasses and other plants, comprising a mixture of rubber, a polymer modified bitumen emulsion and slow release, plant nutrient containing particles, mixed in sufficient proportions and to a substantially even distribution of each of the rubber, emulsion and particles throughout the mixture so that, when laid and cured, the mixture uniformly produces a water permeable, heat conductive surface having air pockets through which a root system of the turf forming grasses and other plants can penetrate, the plant nutrient containing particles being trapped within the surface for slow release of plant nutrient to the root system.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a national phase entry of the international application PCT / AU00 / 01295 in the United StatesFIELD OF INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates to an artificial surface for the growing of turf forming grasses and other plants and, in particular, to a rubber based surface that may be used to replace soil as the growth medium for turf.BACKGROUND ART[0003]Recent developments in modern turf construction have focussed on providing soil having freely draining sand and gravel profiles that allow grass grown thereon to serve as an all weather surface.[0004]In order to achieve the desired level of permeability of such surfaces, the sand and gravel components of the soil must be precisely specified, and great care must be taken in the course of constructing the surface. As the sand and gravel components are derived from naturally occurring deposits, it is almost impossible to find deposits of these components that satisfy the required specificati...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C09K17/00A63K1/00E01C13/00A01G1/00C05G3/00
CPCA01G1/005C05G3/0047A01G20/20C05G5/40
InventorHUDSON, MICHAEL JAMES
OwnerSTRATUM GREEN